Swallowtail - by Emily Ross (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Set on the gritty streets of Quincy, Massachusetts, Emily Ross's SWALLOWTAIL delivers the goods, bringing rich atmosphere, deep characterization, plenty of '90s nostalgia, and a taut storyline that will keep you turning pages well into the night. Fans of Mare of Easttown will love this one!" - Edwin Hill, author of WHO TO BELIEVE

In the gritty seaside town of Quincy, Massachusetts, the killing of a teenager on her daughter's dance team plunges Detective Samantha Star into the trauma of her abduction twenty years before. As clues point to a serial killer obsessed with Surrealism and Greek myth, Sam must unravel the mystery of her own kidnapping to solve the crime--before her daughter is next. At stake are not just the teenagers' lives, but also Sam's identity as a detective and an artist, and a community's chance at healing. SWALLOWTAIL is the moving story of a woman's journey to free herself from the trauma of her past, and a thought-provoking exploration of violent representations of women in myth and art.

Review Quotes

"Ross doesn't reinvent the wheel, slickly executing rather than subverting the well-established tropes of the serial killer thriller. She maintains plenty of nerve-shredding tension, however, and makes her lead's trauma palpable." - Publishers Weekly

"Evocative, compelling, and utterly heartbreaking, this is an unforgettable story." - Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS"

"Blending the disparate worlds of teen dancers and townie detectives, Ross has choreographed a mesmerizing pas de deux of past trauma and present-day terror in this chilling mystery, where everyone and everything is suspect-even memory." - Kelly J. Ford, Anthony-nominated author of REAL BAD THINGS

"An artful exploration of trauma and obsession that delivers reveal after stunning reveal with narrative muscle and heart, SWALLOWTAIL is top-notch crime fiction." - Tessa Wegert, author of IN THE BONES

"A twisty, nail-biter of a mystery that raises the stakes on cat-and-mouse. Will keep readers guessing." -Kimberly G. Giarratano, author of the Billie Levine mystery series